Abstract: In described examples, a magnetic sensor includes a waveguide that encapsulates dipolar molecules. A mm-wave electromagnetic field is launched into the waveguide, travels through the dipolar molecules, and is then received after passing through the dipolar molecules. The frequency of the mm-wave electromagnetic signal is swept across a range that includes an intrinsic quantum rotational state transition frequency (Fr) for the dipolar molecules. Absorption peaks in accordance with the Zeeman effect are determined. A strength of a magnetic field affecting the magnetic sensor is proportional to a difference in the frequencies of the absorption peaks.

Abstract: A reference frequency signal generator comprises a plurality of ovenized reference crystal oscillators (OCXOs) having different turn-over-temperatures, a selector logic circuit coupled to outputs of the OCXOs, a temperature sensor, and a controller coupled to an output of the temperature sensor. The selector logic circuit outputs one of the outputs of the OCXOs based on a control signal from the controller. The controller also generates control signals for the OCXOs. In some implementations, the reference frequency signal generator includes a phase-locked loop or a fractional output divider coupled to the output of the selector logic circuit and configured to receive a calibration signal from the controller.

Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes: a package substrate having a device side surface and a board side surface opposite the device side surface; a physics cell mounted on the device side surface having a first end and a second end; a first opening extending through the package substrate and lined with a conductor, aligned with the first end; a second opening extending through the package substrate and lined with the conductor, aligned with the second end; a millimeter wave transmitter module on the board side, having a millimeter wave transfer structure including a transmission line coupled to an antenna aligned with the first opening; and a millimeter wave receiver module mounted on the board side surface of the package substrate and having a millimeter wave transfer structure including a transmission line coupled to an antenna for receiving millimeter wave signals, aligned with the second opening.

Abstract: A method, providing an oscillator output signal to reference inputs of a PLL and an output clock circuit; providing a first divisor value to a control input of the PLL to regulate a closed loop that includes a physics cell, a receiver, and the PLL; providing a second divisor value to a control input of the output clock circuit to control an output frequency of an output clock signal; shifting the first divisor value in a first direction to cause a perturbation in the closed loop; shifting the second divisor value in an opposite second direction to counteract a response of the closed loop to the perturbation and to regulate the output frequency of the output clock signal; and based on the receiver output signal, analyzing the response of the closed loop to the perturbation.

Abstract: In described examples, a magnetic sensor includes a waveguide that encapsulates dipolar molecules. A mm-wave electromagnetic field is launched into the waveguide, travels through the dipolar molecules, and is then received after passing through the dipolar molecules. The frequency of the mm-wave electromagnetic signal is swept across a range that includes an intrinsic quantum rotational state transition frequency (Fr) for the dipolar molecules. Absorption peaks in accordance with the Zeeman effect are determined. A strength of a magnetic field affecting the magnetic sensor is proportional to a difference in the frequencies of the absorption peaks.

Abstract: A physics cell includes a sealed glass vial that contains a high-purity dipolar gas (e.g., OCS) at a low pressure (e.g., between about 0.01 millibar and 0.2 millibar). The vial can be sealed using a laser cutting process that involves only local heating of the vial that does not denature the bulk of the contained gas. One or more electromagnetically translucent windows or vial-end access points provide access to electromagnetic waves launched or received by one or more electromagnetic antennas at a frequency that is adjusted to match the quantum transition frequency of the gas based on a detected maximum absorption frequency. The glass-vial physics cell can be fabricated at lower cost than physics cells fabricated from bonded wafers. Multiple vials can be joined by a waveguide in an enclosure so that launch and receive antennas can be provided at a single end of the vials.

Abstract: A millimeter wave apparatus, with a substrate, a transceiver in a first fixed position relative to the substrate, and a gas cell in a second fixed position relative to the substrate. The clock apparatus also comprises at least four waveguides.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate containing a cavity and a dielectric structure covering at least a portion of the cavity. The cavity is hermetically sealed. The apparatus also may include a launch structure formed on the dielectric structure and outside the hermetically sealed cavity. The launch structure is configured to cause radio frequency (RF) energy flowing in a first direction to enter the hermetically sealed cavity through the dielectric structure in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A millimeter wave apparatus, with a substrate, a transceiver in a first fixed position relative to the substrate, and a gas cell in a second fixed position relative to the substrate. The clock apparatus also comprises at least four waveguides.

Abstract: A clock generator includes a hermetically sealed cavity and clock generation circuitry. A dipolar molecule in the hermetically sealed cavity has a quantum rotational state transition at a fixed frequency. The clock generation circuitry generates an output clock signal based on the fixed frequency of the dipolar molecule. The clock generation circuitry includes a detection circuit, a reference oscillator, and control circuitry. The detection circuit generates a first detection signal and a second detection signal representative of amplitude of signal at an output of the hermetically sealed cavity responsive to a first sweep signal and a second sweep signal input to the hermetically sealed cavity. The control circuitry sets a frequency of the reference oscillator based on a difference in time of identification of the fixed frequency of the dipolar molecule in the first detection signal and the second detection signal.

Abstract: A device includes a multilayer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An integrated circuit is mounted on the second surface of the multilayer substrate, the integrated circuit having transmission circuitry configured to process millimeter wave signals. A substrate waveguide having a substantially solid wall is formed within a portion of the multilayer substrate perpendicular to the first surface. The substrate waveguide has a first end with the wall having an edge exposed on the first surface of the multilayer substrate. A reflector is located in one of the layers of the substrate and is coupled to an edge of the wall on an opposite end of the substrate waveguide.

Abstract: A clock generator includes a hermetically sealed cavity and clock generation circuitry. A dipolar molecule that exhibits a quantum rotational state transition at a fixed frequency is disposed in the cavity. The clock generation circuitry is configured to generate an output clock signal based on the fixed frequency of the dipolar molecule. The clock generation circuitry includes a detector circuit, a multiplier, and reference oscillator control circuitry. The detector circuit is coupled to the cavity, and is configured to generate a detection signal representative of an amplitude of a signal at an output of the cavity. The multiplier is coupled to the detector circuit, and is configured to multiply the detection signal with a mixing signal to produce a derivative of the detection signal. The reference oscillator control circuitry is configured to set a frequency of a reference oscillator based on the derivative of the detection signal.

Abstract: Millimeter wave energy is provided to a spectroscopy cavity of a spectroscopy device that contains interrogation molecules. The microwave energy is received after it traverses the spectroscopy cavity. The amount of interrogation molecules in the spectroscopy cavity is adjusted by activating a precursor material in one or more sub-cavities coupled to the spectroscopy cavity by a diffusion path to increase the amount of interrogation molecules or by activating the getter material in one or more sub-cavities coupled to the spectroscopy cavity by a diffusion path to decrease the amount of interrogation molecules.

Abstract: An interposer acts as a buffer zone between a transceiver IC and a dielectric waveguide interconnect and establishes two well-defined reference planes that can be optimized independently. The interposer includes a block of material having: a first interface region to interface with an antenna coupled to an integrated circuit (IC); and a second interface region to interface to the dielectric waveguide. An interface waveguide is formed by a defined region positioned within the block of material between the first interface region and the second interface region.

Abstract: A compact mmW spectroscopy cell system for detecting volatile organic compounds (compounds) in a gas. The system includes a gas collection chamber, an input buffer cavity for receiving the gas from the gas collection chamber, pumping devices to pass the gas from the buffer cavity to an absorption cell and maintain pressure, and a transceiver connected to the cell. The transceiver interrogates the absorption cell filled with the gas by passing a high frequency electromagnetic signal and sweeping the signal to generate an absorption spectra which is compared to a spectroscopy database for detecting the compounds in the gas. The absorption cell, collection chambers, and pumping devices are fabricated with standard CMOS processing techniques at chip and wafer scale. The transceiver bonded to the absorption cell with chip scale integration.

Abstract: A wave communication system includes an integrated circuit and a multilayered substrate. The multilayered substrate is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. The multilayered substrate includes an antenna structure configured to transmit a circularly polarized wave in response to signals from the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A clock apparatus includes: (a) a gas cell, including a continuous path cavity including a sealed interior for providing a signal waveguide; (b) an apparatus for providing an electromagnetic wave to travel along the continuous path cavity and for circulating around the continuous path cavity back toward and past a point of entry of the electromagnetic wave in the continuous path cavity; (c) a dipolar gas inside the sealed interior of the cavity; and (d) receiving apparatus for detecting an amount of energy in the electromagnetic wave, wherein the amount of energy is responsive to an amount of absorption of the electromagnetic wave as the electromagnetic wave passes through the dipolar gas.

Abstract: In described examples, a physics cell includes: a laser source configured to emit light towards an atomic chamber containing an atomic gas; a photodetector configured to receive emissions from the atomic chamber; and a field coil for generating a magnetic field in the atomic chamber. An electronics circuit includes: a controller circuit coupled to the photodetector output and having control outputs to a digital to analog converter circuit; the digital to analog converter circuit having a coil current output to adjust the magnetic field, a modulation control output to control a modulation of the light, and having an output to control a voltage controlled oscillator; and a radio-frequency output circuit having a voltage controlled oscillator coupled to the output of the digital to analog converter circuit outputting a radio frequency signal to the laser source in the physics cell.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a package substrate, a circuit assembly, and a housing. The circuit assembly is mounted on the package substrate. The circuit assembly includes a first sealed cavity formed in a device substrate. The housing is mounted on the package substrate to form a second sealed cavity about the circuit assembly.

Abstract: An antenna-in-package (AiP) device includes a substrate stack having a ceramic substrate attached to an organic substrate, where a dielectric constant of the ceramic substrate is higher than a dielectric constant of the organic substrate. An antenna is on a top side of the ceramic substrate. An integrated circuit (IC) die is flip chip attached to a bottom side of the ceramic substrate or to a top surface of the organic substrate. The IC die includes a radio circuit including at least a transmitter, and there is at least one interconnect for coupling the radio circuit to the antenna.